DIMAPUR, July 29: In a move that may have far-reaching consequences in combating militancy, policymakers in North Block are evolving a new policy of streamlining state police forces to tackle insurgency in the Northeast while diminishing the overwhelming presence of the Army. This is in line with the defence ministry's initiative to relieve the Army of the job of maintaining internal security in the insurgency-prone region and hand over the task to paramilitary forces, particularly Assam Rifles. The hierarchy in the defence ministry are of the view that excess employment of Army for militancy...

AIZAWL, July 29: The Mizoram Assembly passed the state annual Budget for 1999-2000 on Wednesday. The Budget size of Rs 883.24 cr was the same as last year's annual Budget as the Planning Commission was yet to formally approve sectoral allocation of the Rs 360 cr state plan outlay, chief minister Zoramthanga who also holds the finance portfolio said. The detailed sectoral allocation break-up was not available. Zoramthanga informed the House that his government's priority was to be self-sufficient in food production, generation of income, increase of power generation and social reforms. The...

GUWAHATI, July 29: The damages caused by floods in Assam so far this year has been estimated to be to the tune of Rs 100 cr, according to the state minister for revenue, Zoii Nath Sarma. He, however, said that it was only a rough preliminary estimate and the actual damages can be ascertained only when the floodwaters recede. The minister said the calamity relief fund for the state for the current financial year has been fixed at Rs 52 cr. The central government will bear Rs 40 cr, while the balance will have to be borne by the state government. He said the Centre has so far released only Rs 13...

New Delhi, July 29: The Congress in Assam is in a dilemma over renominating self-styled lottery king Mani Kumar Subba for the second term from the Tezpur Lok Sabha constituency. Although the state Congress election committee does not foresee a problem in selecting the candidates for the forthcoming elections, in view of the decision to renominate all sitting MPs, the selection of the Tezpur candidate is expected to trigger a controversy. For the lottery king, problems may arise not from opposition within the state Congress but from the party's manifesto which proposes strict code of ethics in...

SHILLONG, July 29: The crisis-laden Congress-United Democratic Party (UDP) coalition ministry in Meghalaya on Thursday got a fresh lease of life with the Meghalaya Parliamentary Forum (MPF) - the joint parliamentary party of the two ruling partners - reiterating their firm commitment to the principles and provisions laid down in the joint 'agreement' signed by the two parties. The MPF met on Thursday under the shadow of reports in local dailies about the imminent collapse of the coalition government due to inter-party and intra-party differences arising from the emergence of the Nationalist...